Wilgerbosdrift’s beautifully bred young War Front stallion Fire Away received yet another boost to his stellar pedigree page when his close relative Palio Flag made an impressive winning debut at Keeneland on Thursday.
Breaking sharply from stall 10, the 4-1 Palio Flag stalked from a two-wide third through a :22.28 opening quarter and :45.27 half-mile. Drawing alongside the top two entering the turn, the chestnut rolled clear in the lane, holding off a belated bid from 3-2 chalk Movie Moxy (Street Sense) to win by a neck. It was 4 1/4 lengths back to the third-place horse.
A three-year-old daughter of Curlin, Palio Flag is out of the A.P. Indy mare Private Ensign, a three time winner who ran third in the G2 Davona Dale Stakes.
Her fourth dam is unbeaten Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner and Broodmare Of The Year Personal Ensign -the granddam of Fire Away.
The latter, who shares his outstanding sire War Front with such successful and promising sires as Air Force Blue, Declaration Of War and The Factor, won seven times including the G3 Dixie Stakes.
Fire Away’s first foals arrive this year.